Baking machine



Aug. 14, 1951 H. PULS 2,563,866

BAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet l feflmampaais H 54 ATTORNEYS Aug. 14, 1951 H. PULS 2,563,866

BAKING MACHINE Filed 00k. 15, 1947 T'EEFZ.

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 www Mar/z,

ATTORNEYS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 R m E M I mmwm mum m8 nu ma Qwr m J Y 65:. QQWMN Mm i I! U 9% 5 H. PULS BAKING MACHINE wk Rm s wmm mom mm k mm mm mm mm ww INVENTOR Henmrzfiaii ATTORNEYS Aug. 14, 1951 Filed Oct.

M MI-u Aug. 14, 1951 H. PULS 2,563,866

BAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15, 1947' e Sheets-Sheet 5 7 01 rltfi. 202 Q05 20111/217 99 j J M 198 INVENTOR Herman Pails ATTORNEYS Aug. 14, 1951 H. PULS 2,563,866

BAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 'IIIIII/ INVENTOR Herman/flak ATTORNEYS fiatenteci Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BAKING MACHINE Herman Puls, New York, N. Y. Application October 15, 1947, Serial No. 780,093 Claims. (Cl. 107-4) 7 The present invention relates to automatic machinery for the quantity production of tubes of pastry and is particularly concerned with, though not limited to, a machine that automatically forms, bakes and discharges the baked tubes.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an automatic baking machine for forming and baking tubes of pastry, which machine is compact and rugged in construction, which functions with a minimum number of operating parts, none of which is delicate or apt to become out of order, which machine is capable of continuous operation for long periods without attention, and the working parts of which are readily accessible for maintenance and repair and the cost of upkeep of which is low.

According to theinvention, a plurality of pastry tube molds are mounted on a support therefor. A plurality of operating stations are provided to act upon the interior of successive molds to form the pastry tube therein and after the molds are heated in a suitable oven, to lift the baked pastry ftubes therefrom. Means are provided to effect relative step-by-step movement between said operating stations and said molds, said operating stations only functioning after each of such stepping movements when there is no relative movement between the operating stations and the mold. In addition to the primary operations at the operating stations, a plurality of auxiliary operations are performed on the exterior of the molds during the course of the relative stepby-step movement between the operating stations and the molds, by suitable operating instrumentalities fixed with respect to the stations, acting upon the molds in sequence and serving to imprison and lock the contents of each of the molds therein preparatory to baking and after baking to release the mold content and expose the pastry tube, so that it may be lifted from the mold.

In the specific embodiment of the machine herein chosen to illustrate my invention, the

molds are identical and comprise separable hinged segments extending radially of a mounting table therefor. Through a transmission from a main drive, the table is rotated in a step-by-step movement so that each mold thereon will successively pause at a sequence of operating stations, each of which is actuated by a continu ously rotating cam, driven through a transmission from the main drive.

The operations performed at and between these stations include the charging of the open mold with a predetermined amount of dough, the closing and locking of the mold, the introduction of a plunger rod or core into the charged mold to form a tube therein, the locking of the plunger rod in the mold, and after baking in an oven, the unlocking of the mold, the unlocking and removal of the plunger rod or core therefrom, the opening of the mold, and the introductioninto the baked pastry tube of a lifting pin, the raising of such pin with its encompassing pastry tube, to remove the same from the mold, and the withdrawal of the pin to discharge the pastry tube from the machine.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the machine with parts broken away,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the machine on a larger scale with the lifting pin out of the mold,

Fig. 3 is a view of the machine in longitudinal cross-section, taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on a larger scale taken along line 4--4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a view of the machine in longitudinal cross-section, taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, taken along line 6-5 of Fig. 2,

Fig. '7 is'a view line of Fig. 2,

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5, taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the tube removing mechanism in raised position,

Fig. 10 is a view in transverse cross-section, takenalong line l0l 0 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 11 is a detail transverse sectional view on a larger scale, taken along line I l-ll of Fig. 3,

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view taken along line l2-|2 of Fig. 2, showing the mold in closed position,

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. l2,'showing the mold in open position,

Fig. 14 is a perspective view on a larger scale showing the mold and plunger rod latch mechamsm,

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of the mold closing device,

Fig. 16 is a sectional view on a larger scale taken along line l6-I 6 of Fig. 8, and v Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the baked tube product of the machine.

While the various cams, gears and. sprocket wheels for operating the constituent elements of the machine may be arranged in timed relation in any of a multiplicity of possible ways, to be similar. to Fig. 5, taken along 3 driven by a common motor m desirably n the base of the machine, a particularly desirable arrangement is shown in the drawings.

The general construction of the machine will first be described and then under appropriate titles will be described the component structural parts of the preferred specific embodimentshown herein whereby automatic operation is achieved.

General construction Referring now to the drawings, the machine comprises a bed 21 supported by a conventional frame 22, which frame also supports a base 23 affixed thereto beneath bed 2|.

Journalled in a ball bearing 24 which extends through an opening 25 in bed 2| and which is afiixed to the bed by bolts 226, is a vertical shaft 21, the lower end 28 of which is journalled .in a ball bearing 29 affixed to base 23 by bolts 30.

In order. to prevent shaft 21 from sliding through bearing25, a collar 3-! is provided, amxed to the lower end '28 of the shaft 2'! by a set screw '32 and having a downwardly extending rim '33 which is seated on the inner race 34 of the bearing 29.

A circular table 31 having a hub 3-8 is positioned on the upper end "35 of shaft 21, and securely aflixed thereto by means of a set screw 36 eX- tending through said hub. The lower rim 39 of -hub '38-is seated 'on a disk -4| which desirably has a downturned rim 42 which is seated on th inner race 4,3.of bearing 24.

' An intermittent drive mechanism is provided to effectst-ep-by-step rotation of table '31. This mechanism comprises a vertical drive shaft 44 journalled at its upper end 45 "in a ball bearing 46' under and'afiixed'to thebed 2,1 of the machine by a bracket arm 41. The lower end 48 ;of drive shaft .44 is journalled in a ball bearing 49 aflixed to base 23by bolts To restrain drive shaft '44 from axially downward movement in its bearings 46 and 49, a collar .52 .is provided, affixed to the lower end 48 of the drive shaft 44 by a set screw 53 and havin a downwardly extending rim '54 which is seated onthe inner race 55 of bearing 49.

Afiixed to .the upper end 45 of drive shaft, '44 which protrudes beyond bearing 45 is a disk 56 which forms .partof a Geneva drive mechanism.

Disk 56 has an upstanding pin 5''! near the "periphery thereof .which coacts with the notched rim 5.8 of a drive plate "59 affixed to shaft "51 by a set screw 6|. Illustratively, there are twentyfour notches 62 in rim *58 so that twenty-four 66 afiixed by set screw 61 to drive shaft 44 to rotate the latter.

Afiixed to table 31.near the periphery thereof by screws 68 and equally spaced thereon are a plurality of support arms '69 illustratively'twentyfour in number extending radially of and ,protruding as at H beyond the periphery of table 31. .Each of the protruding ends "H of radiating arms 69 has amold i2 affixed thereto by screws "13. A'heat insulating pad 14 "preferablyof asbestos is provided between arm 69 and table 31 to minimize the transfer of heat there-between.

The molds 12 herein, which are identical. each comprises a base in the form of a substantially rectangular block which has a semi-circular depression 16 longitudinally of the upper face thereof, extending from one end 78 to a tapering point '1'! near the opposite end of the block. Depression i6 .is of greaterdepthat end .18 of the block to form ar-semi-c'ircular seatz'l'S for a bearing bushing 8| of substantially the diameter of :seat 19 and extending upwardly therefrom beyond the upper face of base 15, the bearing being securely affixed in its seat by screw 82 which ,passes through the base into a corresponding threaded opening in the bushing, V

The cover 83 off-the mold is substantially identical to base 15, corresponding parts having the same reference numerals primed, and is hinged to base 15 as at 10 along one side thereof.

In order-to form a tube from the dough with which the mold is charged in the 'manner' here'in after described, a horizontal plunger rod or core 81 is provided for each of the molds. Each of the plunger rods is 'slidably mounted at one endin the corresponding one of a plurality of bearing openings 88 in upstanding r'im 89 of circular hub B -i which rises from and is affixed to the center of table 31 by screws 92. The otherend of each of the plunger male is slidably mounted in bearing bushing 8| of its associatedmold I2, the noseend 93 of each plunger rod being tapered to conform to the tapered end of depressions "l6 and -16 in the 'base and cover of the mold respectively.

In order that the cover and base of the mold may be securely held together to keep the mold closed, a latch arm 96is provided which is pivoted to the sidewall 91 of base 15 asat 98 and is of such length as-to have a portion protruding-above thetop ofth-e cover '83 as at 99. The latch arm 98 also has integral therewith a hook 1 0! which, when latch arm 9G is pivoted -to "closed position, engages as'tu-d 1112 extending'laterally from-side wall 103 of cover tolock the mold. A stop I04 extending laterally outward from side wall 191 of base 1 5 adj a'cent-pivot 98 limits'the-openingmovement of thelatch arm. 7' '7 To heat the molds 12, an oven Hi1, having an intake end'and a discharge -end,is provided which in the embodiment herein preferably comprises an arcuate gas pipe 108 affixed to the bed of "the machine by brackets I09 and extending about the arc defined by the outer ends of the molds. The arcuate length of pipe 168 is such that at therequired operating'speed'of the'machine 'to give the maximum feasible output, it will give the correct period of heating without overbaking or underbaking the tube.

Extending radially inward from pipe 108 are a plurality of pairsof gas outlets H0, each pair forming a yoke. The pairs of outlets 1 iii are positioned along pipe )3 soas to be spaced-from each other by a distance equal to that between the outer ends of consecutive molds. after each intermittent movement of table 31 by the intermittent drive mechanism therefor, one of said pairs of outlets will be vertically aligned with an associated mold to straddle the same. The outlets each have a plurality of openings Ii-1 therein, positioned so that the gas flame therefrom will play upon the top and bottom' of the mold-for equal distribution of heat-thereto.

It is of course to be understood that other types of ovens could be used such as electric ovens, -it

"being important only thatthc heat-bedistributed equally over the mold to provide even baking of the contents thereof.

Means are provided securely to retain each of the plunger rods 81 in the mold to guard against expulsion of said rods from the molds under the expansion of the dough therein by the gases generated during the baking cycle. As shown in Fig. 14, this means may comprise a horizontal latch H2 affixed to the upper end of a pin H3 extending through and pivotally mounted in the bore of a hub H4 upstanding from each of the support arms 1 I.

Latch H2 has a hook H5 whereby the outer face H6 of a collar 94, affixed to plunger rod 81 by set screw 95, may be engaged to lock the plunger rod in the mold 12. The portion of pin H3 extending beneath support arms H has a collar II1 afiixed thereto by means of a laterally extending pin H8 which extends through said 001- lar and said pin I I3. A coil spring I I9 affixed at one end to said pin H8 as at I2I and anchored at its free end to the support arm 1I, resiliently urges the hook portion H5 of the latch for engagement with collar I I6.

In order that the baking of the tubes of pastry be automatically performed, a plurality of operating stations A, B, C, D and E are provided about the table 31. The operations performed at these stations include the charging of the mold M at station A the introduction of the plunger rod or mold core at station B, and after baking in the oven, the removal of the mold core at station D and the introduction into the pastry tube at station E of the lifting pin and the lifting operation of the latter.

In addition to the primary operations at stations A, B, D and E, a plurality of auxiliar operations are performed in the course of the stepping movement of each mold from station to station by suitable operating instrumentalities rising from bed 2 I Thus duringthe course of the stepping movement of the table from station A to station E, the open mold is first closed by engagement with a fixed member on the stationary bed and then locked by engagement with a fixed cam with a latch on the mold. During movement of the mold from station C to station D, the closed mold is unlocked by engagement of the latch thereof with afixed cam on the stationary bed and during movement of the mold from station D to station E, the closed unlocked mold is opened by engagement with a fixed cam surface on the stationary bed.

The operations at the various stations A, B, D and E are performed in timed relation from a cam shaft driven from motor m. This cam shaft may be in the form of a sleeve I44, encompassing shaft 21 immediately below hub 59'. The cam shaft I44 is retained against sliding movement along said shaft 21 by resting upon a collar I45 afiixed by a set screw I46 to said shaft. The cam shaft is driven through a transmission comprising a sprocket wheel I 39 aflixed to drive shaft 44 beneath bearing 46 by a set screw I4I. An identical sprocket wheel I42 is affixed by a set screw I43, to cam shaft I44.

By means of a sprocket chain I41 encircling sprocket wheels I39 and I 42, cam shaft I44 will be rotated one revolution for each revolution of drive shaft 44.

Afiixed on cam shaft I 44 are a plurality of cams including a plunger rod or core withdrawal cam I41 aflixed beneath sprocket wheel I42 by set screw I48, and having a cam I49 on the upper face thereof to actuate the mold charging pump 269; a plunger rod or core insertion cam I5I af-' fixed beneath cam I41 by set screw I52 and a cam: I53 afiixed beneath cam I5I by set screw I54 and having an additional cam I55 on the under face thereof, cams I53 and I55 actuating the pastry tube removal mechanism.

The operation at and between the individual station will now be set forth in detail under appropriate headings.

Dough injection mechanism (station A-Figs. 2, 3 and 4) To charge the molds with dough, a pump 269 is provided which as it is conventional in construction will not be described in detail. The pump is supplied with dough from a supply tank 21I which is positioned on the base 23 of the machine. The actuate the piston rod 212 of the pump 269, a lever 213 is pivotally aflixed thereto at the end thereof as at 214. The lever is pivoted near its midsection as at 215 on a bracket 216 affixed. to the base 23 of the machine. The free end of the lever has a roller 211 thereon to engage cam I49 on the upper surface of cam I41, thereby to pivot the lever and force piston rod 212 into pump 269. This action forces a charge of batter through outlet 290 and the fish-tail nozzle 29I thereof so that a strip of batter will be injected into the mold. To ensure that the piston rod 212 will be lifted from the pump to complete the suction stroke of the pump to recharge the latter for the next cycle, a coil spring 218 is provided afiixed at its end to lever 213 as at 219, and at its free end to bracket 216 as at 26L Mold closing mechanism (Fig. 15)

To close the cover of the mold after the latter has been charged, a bracket I36 is provided (see Figs 2 and 15), affixed at its lower end to the bed 2I and having an upright arm I31 with a laterally extending finger I38 preferably unitary therewith which is in the path of movement of pin I66 extending laterally outward from end wall I of the open mold cover, as the mold moves from station A to station B.

As the pin abuts against finger I38, the cover will be pivoted about its hinge to closed position, the closed mold clearing finger I38.

Mold locking mechanism (Fig. 6)

To pivot latch arm 96 about its pivot 98 so that hook I6I thereof engages stud I62, an upright bracket I26 is provided affixed at its lower end to the bed 2I and having a laterally extending portion I21 extending inwardly over the molds. The end I28 of portion I 21 is reversely bent to form a horizontal cam arm I29, the beveled end I3I of which lies in the path of end 99 of latch arm 96 when it is in unlocked position. Thus with the intermittent movement of table 31 and the molds thereon, from station A to station B, end 99 of latch arm 96 abuts against edge I3I and the latch arm will be cammed toward stud I62 so that hook IIlI engages the latter, securely to lock the mold.

Core insertion mechanism (station -BEigs.- 2 and 6) As shown in Fig. 6, this mechanism comprises a bracket I92 affixed to the bed 2I by bolts I93. Rigid with and rising from the ends of said bracket I92 are bearing blocks I94, the bearing openings I95 therein extending radially of the table 31.

9 bearing said pin extends. The lower end of the plate has a bushing bearing 23I extending transversely thereacross in which is positioned a rod 232 having a hub 234 rigidly aifixed thereto at one end thereof. Hub 234 has a vertical rod 235 affixed in an opening therein by a set screw 236, the upper end of said rod 235 having an opening 231 therethrough in which is inserted one end of pin 226, securely retained therein by set screw 238.

To reciprocate horizontal pin 226, a transmission is provided actuated by cam I53. This transmission comprises a substantially upright lever 252 pivoted at its lower end 253 to a bracket 254 aflixed to base 23 and having a roller 255 at its upper end in engagement with cam I53. Lever 252 is connected to a substantially upright lever 258 by means of a pitman 259 pivoted at its ends as at 256 and 251 to the respective levers. Lever 258 is pivoted at its lower end to a bracket 26I affixed to base 23 and its upper end protrudes through a slot 262 in bed 2| and is pivotally connected to rod 232 by means of a pitman 265 pivoted at its ends as at 263 and 264 tolever 258 and rod 232, the pivotal connection of pitman 265 thus permitting the horizontal pin 226 to be moved vertically and horizontally.

By means of a coil spring 266 affixed at one end to lever 258 as at 261 and anchored to base 23 as at 268, roller 255 is maintained in constant engagement with cam I53 so that lever 252 fol lows the latter.

To move horizontal pin 226 vertically, a transmission is provided actuated by cam I55 beneath cam I53. This transmission comprises a substantially horizontal lever 23!] pivoted near its midsection as at 24I on a bracket 242 aflixed to base 23. One end of lever 239 adjacent cam I55 has a roller 243 thereon in engagement with the face of cam I55. The free end of lever 239 has a pitman 244 pivotally connected thereto as at 245, the upper end of the pitman being pivotally connected as at 246 to a vertical plunger rod 241 slidably mounted in a bushing 248 affixed beneath bed 2I by bolt 248'. The upper end of rod 241 is securely affixed by set screw 249 to a hub 25I affixed to bushing 23I on plate 221 as by welding or the like.

Operation To facilitate a clear understanding of the operation of the specific embodiment of the machine herein shown, the movement of one of the molds, designated by the letter M, through a complete baking cycle will be followed from the initial charging of an empty mold with dough to the removal of the baked tube from such mold. As motor M through transmission 63, drives the gears in reduction gear box 64, the coacting bevel ears 65 and 66 will rotate drive shaft 44 together with sprocket wheel I39 and disk 56 affixed thereto.

As disk 56 rotates, the upright pin 51 thereon will engage one of the twenty-four notches 62 in drive plate 59 at each complete revolution of disk 56, thereby stepping drive plate 59 through I5 degrees to one twenty-fourth of a revolution. Thus, shaft 21 to which drive plate 59 is aifixed will also move one twenty-fourth of a revolution as will table 31 to which molds 12 are affixed. It is apparent, therefore, that 'it will require twenty-four step-by-step movements of table 31 for each mold thereon to make one complete revolution through the baking cycle heretofore described.

As sprocket wheel I39 rotates, it will rotate sprocket wheel I42 by means of sprocket chain I41, thereby driving cam shaft or sleeve I44 and the cams thereon. It is to be noted that while drive plate 59 is intermittently stepped through a complete revolution, sleeve I44 will be continuously rotating. The timing of the cam shaft and the drive plate is so arranged that the cam shaft will make nearly a complete revolution after each stepped movement of the drive plate to give a dwell period for the table so that the operations performed at each station can occur.

As shown in Fig. 2, when the stepped movement of table 31 has moved the opened mold M to position A, it will be recharged with dough or batter from the supply tank 21L To this end,

cam I49 on the upper surface of cam I41 contacts roller 211 on lever 213 to pivot the latter and force piston rod 212 into pump 269, thereby forcing a charge of batter through outlet 299 and the fish-tail nozzle 29I thereof, so that a strip of batter will be delivered into the mold.

As cam I49 is relatively small and steep, the piston rod 212 will be given a rapid push to insure injection of batter into the mold. Once roller 211 has passed over cam I49, spring 218 will quickly pivot lever 213 for the suction stroke of the pump to recharge the latter for the next cycle. The slight suction resulting from the rapid pulling up of the piston rod will prevent any leakage or drip from nozzle 29I.

The next stepped movement of table 31 will move the mold M from station A to station B. In the movement from station A to station 13, pin I 96 will engage finger I38 of arm I31 to close cover 63 of the open mold. The upstanding portion 99 of latch arm 96 will next engage the beveled end I3I of cam arm I 29 to be eammed inward so that hook I 0| of the latch arm engages the stud I92 to lock the mold.

In station E, roller 2 II on lever 291' is against the low portion I5I of cam I5I, spring 223 retaining arm I99 in extended position with finger 262 thereof always behind face II6 of collar 94.

As cam I5I rotates, its high point 291 will pivot lever 201 and through pitman 2I5, lever 2I4,

pitman 222, rod I96 and arm I99 will bring finger 202 to abut against face I I6 of collar 94 and then move plunger rod 81 into the batter in the mold to form a tube therein, the tapered end 93 of the plunger rod being seated in the tapered ends 11 and 11 of the mold. The plunger rod is securely retained in the mold by the locking action of latch I I2 against collar 94 in the manner heretofore described. Continued rotation of cam I5I will cause coil spring 223 through the transmission above set forth to move arm I99 back to its original position for the succeeding molds.

The next stepped movement of table 31 will move the mold from station E and succeeding.

stepped movements of the table 31 will cause the mold M to completely traverse the oven IIlI until it emerges therefrom and arrives at station C.

As mold M moves one step from station C to station D, the beveled edge I25 of bracket I23 will engage the protruding end 99 of latch arm 96 to cam the latter away from hook I0 I, thereby unlocking the mold.

In station D, the finger I66 of L-shaped, arm

I64 will always be positioned directly in front of face I68 of collar 94 on the plunger rod 81 extending as a core in the mold.

position will restore arm I64 to its original position so that finger I65 will be ready to withdraw the plunger rod from the succeeding mold.

The next stepped movement of table 3'! will move mold M from station D to station E. During the course of this movement, pin I06 on cover 33 will ride up cam surface I34, thereby opening 7 the mold as shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

In station E, cam I53 will rotate so that the low portion I53 of the cam will be against roller 255 of lever 252. As lever 252 follows cam I53 and is moved inwardly, coil. spring 266 will-pivot lever 258, thereby sliding rod 232 in bushing 23I to move pin 226 into the bore of the baked tube in the mold.

It is to be noted at this point that by reason of the tapered ends 11 and 11' of the depressions I6 and 84 in the mold and the corresponding tapered end 93 of plunger rod 81, the end of the baked tube 294 into which pin 226 is inserted, will be open, thus enabling the pin to slide freely into the bore of the tube. If not for this feature, the force of the pin abutting against the closed end of the tube might cause the latter to shatter.

When the pin 226 has entered tube 294, face cam I55 will thereupon engage roller 243 on lever 239 to pivot the free end of the latter upwardly,

thereby lifting rod 241 and with it plate 22'! on which pin 226 is mounted, and with it baked tube 294 to remove it from the open mold. Continued rotation of cam I53 to its original position will again move its high portion I53 against roller 255 of lever 252. Through the transmission from the lever 252 to pin 226, the latter will be moved outwardly through bushing 229. As this occurs, the end of tube 294 will abut against the bushing 229 and as the pin is completely withdrawn from the bore of tube v294, the latter will be released to slide down inclined plate 221 into a suitable receptacle therefor (not shown).

The'continued rotation of cam I53 will move face cam I55 away from roller 243 so that the free end of lever 239 will be lowered, to lower plate 221 and pin 226 thereon so that it is ready for the next mold.

The next stepped movement of table 31 will move mold M to position A, whereupon the cycle will be repeated.

It is of course to be understood that consecutive molds will be at consecutive stages of advancement through a baking cycle so that with each complete revolution of the table 31, twentyfour baked tubes will be completed by the machine.

Inasmuch as the gas outlets II'D of the oven do not heat the molds when the latter are at the operating stations, they would tend to cool. Thus as the baked tube is removed from the mold at station E, the tube might stick thereto. This sticking might also occur if, when the batter was injected into the mold in position A, the mold had cooled.

To. keep the molds heated, a gas pipe 295 is provided having outlets 296 and 291 aligned with stations E1 and A. As the molds are-open in these two positions, the flames from the outlets are preferably directed. against the bushing ends ofthe molds and the plunger rod 81, as shown Fig. 2, and not overtheopen segments thereof. The heatv applied is, sufficient to keep the mold contents from sticking. 7

Although the embodiment of the machine herein shown. to illustrate my invention has twenty-- four molds thereon, it is to be understood that the machine could be constructed for a greater or lesser number of molds.

The machine herein can operate for many hours without supervision, requiring as it does.

only an adequate supply of dough. If any of the molds should require repairs or cleaning, it. is. a

relatively simple matter to replace it with a newunit, thus reducing the lay-up time of the machine.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparentl widely different embodiments of, this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims,

it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings-shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, whatjI claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatthrough a complete revolution, means actuated by said motor successively to move said plunger rods into said molds, means actuated. by said motor successively to move said plunger rods out of said molds, means releasably to retain said plunger rods in said molds, means actuated by the means to move the plunger'rods out of said. molds to release said plunger rod retaining means;

means for pivoting said cover about said hinge V successively to open said molds as said table rotates, means for pivoting said cover about said hinge successively to close said molds .as said.

table rotates, locking means for said molds, means.

- actuated by said motor for successively charging said molds after said plunger rods ha've'been removed therefrom and said molds have been opened, means for successively removing the contents of said molds after the intermittent movement of said table has passed them through said oven, and after the plunger rod has been removed therefrom and said molds have been opened by said aforementioned means.

2. The combination set forth in claim. 1 in which the means releasably to retain said plunger rod. in its associated mold comprises a collar affixed to said plunger rod, and a latch pivoted on said table in juxtaposition to said'mold, said latch having a hook thereon resiliently urged toward said plunger rod, whereby when the latter is in the mold, said. hook will engage said collar thereby preventing withdrawal of said plunger rod until said hook is released. 7 V

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the means to remove the contents of said mold comprises a substantially upright plate,

means affixed to said frame to lift said plate, a pin slidably mounted on said plate transversely thereacross, radially aligned with said molds and in juxtaposition to the periphery of said table, means affixed to said frame to. reciprocate said pin, whereby when said pin is moved toward said opened mold, it will enter said tube therein, when said plate is lifted, said pin will lift said tube from said mold, and means when said pin is moved away from said mold, to remove said tube from said pin.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the means actuated by said motor to move said plunger rod out of said mold comprises a collar on said plunger rod, a substantially L- shaped arm having a finger in juxtaposition to the inner face of said collar, a transmission from said motor to said arm to reciprocate the latter whereby the finger on said arm abuts against said inner face of said collar to slide said plunger rod out of said mold.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the means actuated by said motor to move said plunger rod into said mold comprises a collar on said plunger rod, a substantially L-shaped arm having a finger in juxtaposition to the outer face of said collar, a transmission from said motor to said arm to reciprocate the latter, whereby the finger on said arm will abut against said outer face of said collar to slide said plunger rod into said mold.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said locking means comprises a latch arm affixed to the base of said mold and pivoted thereon and a stud rigid with said cover, said latch arm having a hook thereon adapted to coact with said stud when said mold is closed securely to retain said cover on said base.

'7. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the means for pivoting said cover about said hinge to open said mold as said support means rotates, comprises a pin rigid with said cover and extending therefrom, and a bracket afiixed to said frame and having an inclined cam surface in the path of said pin on said closed mold whereby, as said support means rotates, said pin will ride up said cam surface to pivot said cover about its hinge to open said mold.

8. The combination'set forth in claim 1 in which the means for pivoting said cover about said hinge to close said open mold as said support means rotates, comprises a pin rigid with said cover and extending therefrom, and a bracket afiixed to said frame and having a member thereon protruding in the path of movement of said pin on said open mold, whereby as said support means rotates, said pin will abut against said extending members to pivot said cover about its hinge to close said mold.

9. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the means for actuating said locking means to unlock the latter comprises a bracket aifixed to said frame and having a beveled edge in the path of movement of said latch arm, said latch arm having an upwardly protruding portion rigid therewith, whereby, as said table rotates, said beveled portion will engage said upwardly protruding portion to cam said latch arm about the pivot, thereby releasing said hook from said stud.

10. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the meansfor actuating said locking means to lock the latter comprises a bracket affixed to said frame and having a beveled edge in the path of movement of said latch arm, said 14 latch arm having an upwardly protruding por: tion rigid therewith, whereby as said table rotates, said beveled portion will engage said upwardly protruding portion to cam said latch arm about its pivot, thereby moving said hook to en-,

gage said stud.

11. A machine of the character described comprising a mold, a plunger rod for said mold to form a tube therein and slidably mounted with respect to said mold, means to move said plunger rod into said mold and means releasably to retain said plunger rod in said mold, said means comprising a collar aflixed to said plunger rod and a latch pivotally mounted in juxtaposition to said mold, said latch having a hook thereon resiliently urged toward said plunger rod and normally engaging said collar when the plunger rod is in said mold, thereby preventing withdrawal of said plunger rod until said hook is released.

12. A machine of the character described comprising a mold, a plunger rod for said mold to form a tube therein and slidably mounted with respect to said mold and means to move said plunger rod into said mold, said means comprising a collar on said plunger rod, a substantially L-shaped arm having a finger in juxtaposition to the outer face of said collar and a. transmission to actuate said arm to move said finger against the outer face of said collar to slide said plunger rod into said mold.

13. A machine of the character described comprising a mold, a plunger rod for said mold to form a tube therein and slidably mounted with respect to said mold and means to move said plunger rod out of said mold, said means comprising a collar on said plunger rod, a substantially L-shaped arm having a finger in juxtaposition to the inner face of said collar and a transmission to actuate said arm to move said finger against the inner face of said collar to slide said plunger rod out of said mold.

14. A machine of the character described comprising a mold, a plunger rod for said mold to form a tube therein and slidably mounted with respect to said mold, means releasably to retain said plunger rod in said mold, said means comprising a collar affixed to said plunger rod and a latch pivotally mounted in juxtaposition to said mold, said latch having a hook thereon resiliently urged toward said plunger rod and normally en gaging said collar when the plunger rod is in said mold thereby preventing withdrawal of said plunger rod and means to move said plunger rod out of said mold, said means comprising a substantially L -shaped arm having a finger in. juxtaposition to the inner face of said collar and a cam piece associated with said finger, said latch having an upstanding projection in the path of movement of said cam piece, and a transmission to actuate said arm to move said cam piece against said projection to pivot said latch and the hook thereon away from said collar to release the latter and to move said finger against the inner face of said collar to slide said plunger out of said mold.

15. A machine of the character described comprising a mold for forming tubes, said mold having a base and a cover hinged thereto and movable into open and closed position, means to open said mold and means to remove the contents of said mold, said means comprising a substantially upright plate, means to lift said plate, a pin slidably mounted on said plate transversely thereacross, longitudinally aligned with said mold and normally spaced therefrom, means to reciprocate said 15 16 1 .11 101 10111 the attgr tow rd sai qp aedmolsi UN TED STATES EATEN'I'fi whergpy when said pin enters the tube 11:1 said Number Name 7 Date mol am} W Pl e i li t d t e in ll l the 1319313 w r T 9 4 ube rvQm- 5. 1111 mold and mean hmsaid n i 111 235 mi im 17 9 5 IPQYQQ ay f m Said mold remove the tube 5 7 1,176,720 windrf; v Feb, 8 11916 from Said Pm 1,209,939 Costigan et a1. Dec.:2-6, 1.9.1.6 HERMAN PULS- 1,289,209 Lewison Dec. .3 1918 t 1,302,733 Turnbull May 6 191-9 BEFE-EENCES GITED 1,356,870 Maeda- Oc t.26,19.20 2131c 'iollowlng re rence a e 91 e ord :3 the 1,375,609 Roberts Apr. 19,1921 1 1-? gr 12, 1 pat n 1,719,931 Hall Ju1-y 9,1 929 1,967,933 H3111 v July 24, 19 34: 

